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Israeli Arabs have called for a general strike Sunday after two days of deadly clashes that claimed the lives of 22 Palestinians including one Israeli Arab, a community spokesman said.

"Following the events of the last two days, we decided to call a general strike in the Arab sector," Abed Antawi, a spokesman for the committee that represents Israel's one million Arabs, said Saturday.

"We called on all the Arab political parties to organize demonstrations and other protest activities against the massacre that occurred," he said, referring to Friday and Saturday's incidents.

The clashes led to 22 Palestinian deaths and hundreds of injuries after Israeli right-wing leader Ariel Sharon visited Jerusalem's compound of holy mosques on Thursday.

The area, known to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif, is the third most sacred site in Islam. For the Jews, who call it Temple Mount, it is the site of the temple destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD and their holiest place.

The site is the most contentious dispute in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict -- JERUSALEM (AFP)